Cabrera v. State

Summary

The Court affirmed Cabrera’s convictions, holding that the trial court’s incomplete kidnapping mens rea instruction and failure to conduct requested-style voir dire regarding English-language bias did not constitute plain error. Although the kidnapping instruction should have expressly defined intentional restraint, the instruction was not misleading and the record did not show prejudice affecting the verdict. The Court likewise concluded that the omitted voir dire did not jeopardize the fairness or integrity of the trial, particularly given the repeated anti-bias instructions and compelling evidence.